Kitchen electrical height locations

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trrysmth

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What is the typical height locations for all switches and receptacles in the kitchen? The top of my countertop backsplash is 40 inches of the floor. Please include the height of the range receptacle. And is there a good electrical design book that would give me that info? Thanks Terry
 
Terry I think you are going to have to wait for an answer because this might fall under one of the rules of the forum forbidding this type of info to non electrical type folks.
 
The range receptacle should be mounted so that it is accessible by removing the drawer at the bottom of the range. This is usually accomplished by mounting it on the baseboard or on the floor. See 210.52(3)(C) for receptacle mounting requirements.
 
Agreed. 42" to the bottom or around 44" to center. It's usually 39-1/2" from the floor to the top of the backsplash, so allow a couple of inches above that before you put your box.
 
I'm in agreement -42" to bottom. I also mount the refrigerator recept at 42" bottom. Big thing is when your this close to a straight edge ( the backsplash) be sure that all the boxes are even !
 
Around here I usually see 44" to center specified for counter devices, 48" to center for switches and 18" to center for outlets.

If you have a floor that is really out of wack you should find the highest spot where the cabinet will be placed and base all your measurements from that. (laser would be handy)

Even simply snapping a chalkline can make a big difference in how they line up.

With the straight lines of the back splash and maybe grout lines it could show that your devices follow the floor while the counter and grout lines run true.
 
Terry, Check out the JLC Website 'The Electric Shop' by Joe Tedesco. New book RESIDENTIAL NM WIRING with Bonding & Grounding shows exactly where to put the range receptacle and standard heights for AFF center set outlets.
rbj, Seattle
 
My wife is a decorator and we are currently arguing about the receptacles on the backsplash. She thinks they're ugly and she doesn't want to see them. I, on the other hand, want them to be convenient and accesible.

I've even seen a house where the receptacles were not mounted on the backsplash at all. They were underneath the cabinets, pointing down. I was sure this was a violation, but i couldn't find where it was. They were within the maximum distance allowed from the counter-top.
 
I run in to the problem occasionally. Some homeowners don't want them in the fancy backsplash, so we just put in plugmold. Then they usually complain about the cords being visible. Sometimes you can't win. We always use 48" to top of box-for everything. It seems to work well.
 
eric stromberg said:
I've even seen a house where the receptacles were not mounted on the backsplash at all. They were underneath the cabinets, pointing down.
Click to expand...
Here's a twist on that one: rip a 2x2 diagonally and attach it sorta like shoe mold, except where the cabinet bottom meets the wall, with the hypotenuse (long side) of the triangle facing the open space.

Now, hard-wire (with 12-3 on a 2-pole GFCI breaker) a dual-circuit Wiremold receptacle strip (Plugmold 2000-series) and attach it to this face of the wood strip. You can get various spacings and overall lengths.

(Sorry, B.J. I posted right away, but the hardwiring would be planned for rough-in)
 
Hiding the receptacle up under cabinets looks good if you don't use your kitchen...Typical designer!
But if you leave anything out on the countertop pluged in then ask your wife/designer how attractive it is having a cord dangle from the upper cabinet?
Next she'll change her mind & want the plugs horizontal on the counter. What a Hemoroid that is.
I did Install a quad under the counter in the lower cabinet & installed a desktop grommet thru the counter so no cord showed. It was a cool idea that I created!!
I have pictures if you'd like!
 
I tend to place the bottom of all my switch boxes and counter rec at 44.5 inches from floor and reg wall rec at 11.5 inches.
To speed things up on the wall rec I precut a 2 x 4 and place the box at the top of it to nail in place
Chris
 
77401 said:
I did Install a quad under the counter in the lower cabinet & installed a desktop grommet thru the counter so no cord showed. It was a cool idea that I created!!
Click to expand...

That's commonly done with office desks here in Australia.
An even better idea I've seen for kitchens is post mounted outlets. You pull the post up when you want power and push it back down so the top is flush with the countertop when it's not being used.
 
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